THE OCCASIONAL ORBITER Wednesday March 27, 2002 Vol. 67 Hi, hello and welcome once again fellow Cowpersons of the Space variety to the most recent installment of your occasional reading. **** 'Boys Snap Three (3) Game Slide **** In front of the largest crowd of the season (11) the 'boys broke a three (3) game losing streak, coming from behind to beat the "thuggy thuggs" of Winnelson sixty-five (65) to fifty-six (56). At the beginning of the contest things looked bleak, the 'boys just could not get anything going. The thugs defesne was stifling, it was one shot and done, while on the other end of the court the 'boys were giving up second chance points like they were free "big macs" and the thugs were a team of "Jeremy Jeffries'". Needless to say this was not helping the home team on the "scoreboard." But the mindset of a Space Cowboy is "never say die" and they didn't. The fought through poor shooting with "tenacious" defense and kept themselves within striking distance. When the "buzzer" sounded to signal the end of the first period the score was knotted our favorite number and yours, twenty-seven (27). After taking a a quick lead on a three (3) point basket, the thugs countered with a few of their own. Their "pudgeball" was somewhat, "en fuego" from beyond the arc. Hand in his face, he was still connecting consistently. This "incredulous" shooting led the "bad guys" to as much as an eight point lead. But that would not last for long. A runner by John Rasp even up the score once again at fifty-three (3) apiece. And after the first basket of the night for Jeremy Jeffries, a three pointer, the home team had their first lead since early in the half. Those two (2) baskets were just a "nubbin" of a fifteen (15) to zero (0) run put together by the 'boys to climb from a fifty-three (53) to fourty-eight (48) defecit, to a sixty-three (63) to fifty-three (53) lead. This "spurt" was due in large part to the emergence of Mr. Jeffries. It was not until the four (4) minute mark in the second half that he connected on his first shot, and as mentioned it was a big one. He would also go on to hit another from "downtown" as well as drill a couple free throws down the stretch to solidify the lead. In the end the 'boys would not be the first to fall to the "Loselson" "thuggy thuggs". This win was exactly the type of emotional triumph they were looking for. It gives them the emotional lift they have been dying for headed into the Sports of All Sorts Tuesday Night League Championship. Bright Spot worth noting: John Rasp. This kid has been it all, fabular, spectaculous, incredulous, exilarating. He single hadnedly kept the 'boys in this game when no one else could hit a shot. He put together his second consecutive "outstanding" performance, and has most deifntly earned himself a spot on the permanent roster. He helped to clog the hole in the Cowboy offense casued by the loss of injured guard Michael Ash. **** Box Score March 26, 2002 **** Name No. Fgm Fga 3ptm 3pta Ftm Fta TP Rasp 1 7 11 4 6 0 0 18 K.Lubbers 10 3 5 1 3 0 0 7 Iles 11 0 2 0 1 0 3 0 N.Lubbers 23 11 20 7 14 0 0 29 Jeffries 24 2 11 2 10 2 2 8 Ash 30 - - - - - - - Keene 44 0 2 0 0 3 4 3 Totals 143 23 50 14 34 5 9 65 46% 42% 56% Attendance: 12 (Andrea, Batsche, Brinkman, Kaylor, Jack, Keene, Kidd, J.Lubbers, K.Lubbers, Misty, Mmrrr, Rory) Final Season Attendance: 54 Special Thanks to Scorekeeper Christina Batsche **** Tournament: Tuesday Arpil 2nd, 2002 **** The Space Cowboys quest for their first ever Sport of All Sorts Tuesday Night League Champioship will begin next Tuesday night, April 2, at Sports of All Sorts in Florence. In what will hopeflly be their first of two (2) games on the night, the 'boys will face the "thuggy thuggs" of SOAS. These two (2) clubs met twice during the regular season with the "thuggy thuggs" come out victorious in both. The two (2) games were entirely different though. In the first, the 'boys took the game into an extra period and fell by just two (2) points. IN their second meeting, one in which the home team was seeking revenge for that overtime loss, SOAS took it to them, giving the 'boys their worst loss of hte season, seventy-three (73) to fifty-two (52). It goes without saying that the Space Cowboys will be looking to put those losses behind them and come out with the "W" when it counts the most. This team has been known in the past to be somehwat of a "tournament team". Although they have yet to win the "big dance", they have come away with somem wins that only they thought possible. So come on out to the "big arena by the highway" to see your 'boys in action. The tournament will get underway at 7 P.M. with a battle of the "thuggy thuggs". Famous Dave's will take on Winnelson in a battle of "basketball teams". The winner of this contest will play the undefeated Smokies at 8 P.M. Then following the conclusion of that semifinal game, the Space Cowboys will play the SOAS "thuggy thuggs". Then, it happens. The Sports of All Sorts Tuesday Night League CHampionship game will tip off at 10 P.M. It will pit the winner of Famous Dave's/Winnelson vs. Smokies against Space Cowboys vs. SOAS. Any way you look at it this is going to be some great basketball. Rivaled only by the likes of the "Final Four". So get your Space Cowboys lovin' booty on out to the "big arena by the highway" for the game we've all been waiting for. This Tuesday, April 2nd, at 9 P.M. Doors will open at 6:45, with Cowboy pregamnne festivities not beginning until approxamatly 8:51. **** Hagit? **** With the Sports of All Sorts Tuesday Night League Championship quickly approaching rumoros have once again began to circulate that one local reporter, Hagit Limor, will attend the game to do a cover stsory on the beloved Space Cowboys. Hagit is the idle of the majority of the 'boys and it has been a lifelong dream of theirs to play in her presence. In her honor, present or not, everytime the team makes a basket, they will give one loud "HHaaaggiiiiiiitt" in unison. We here at the Occasional Orbiter urge you to personallyl "woo" Mr. Limore out to the Sports of All Sorts Arena. She can be reached at hlimor@wcpo.com. Or to learn more about her, http://www.cincinow.com/whatson9/aboutwcpo/bios/bio_hlimor.shtml **** News and Notes **** Injury Report:Guard Michael Ash, who has been making great progress with his injured ankle, is still listed as questionable for the Tuesday's Tournament. It had originally been thought that he would be ready for the tournament, but even with his progress there is still the risk of agrivating it....Michael Brinkman, after missing approxamatly twenty-seven (27) consecutive games, has now attended two (2) in a row! But dont get too excited, we beleive itwas just a ploy to reconcile himself wince he knew he would not be attending the biggest game of the year. Yes, no surprise here. Mr. Brinkman announced he will be in New Orleans this week to visit his brother. While the gesture appears to be genuine, we still have to questoin the loyalty of this one time #1 fan...."Big Man" Ben Keene made his triumphant return to the floor for the 'boys after missing two (2) games. He failed to hit his two (2) attempts from the field, but hit two (2)clutch free throws down the "perverbial" stretch....Jeremy Jeffries personal record tying streak of two (20 consecutive games with scoring in doubles figures was broken as he put in eight (8) points. **** A Special Thanks **** We here at the Occasional Orbiter would like to take this opportunity to thank the fans that suppport the Space COwboys on a weekly basis. We exist because of you and are very proud that you stepped up toe the "calling" and made yourselves seen and heard in the 'boys victory Tuesday night. We would also like to ask for your presence once again this Tuesday at the Sports of All Sorts Tuesday Night League Championships. The packed bleachers on the Cowboys side of the court plays mental games with the opponents. They begin to question why they even play the sport they love when they done get the recongnition that these 'boys do. Basically it can drastically throw off their game and itv will definftly lift the spirits of the home team to see how deep love and support run in the Space Cowboy family. **** Final Season Averages **** N. Lubbers - Fg. 80/173 46% 3pt. 38/94 40% Ft. 9/11 82% Ppg. 20.7 Rasp - Fg. 14/21 67% 3pt. 5/9 56% Ft. 0/1 0% Ppg. 16.5 Ash - Fg. 44/104 42% 3pt. 34/78 44% Ft. 9/11 82% Ppg. 16.4 Jeffries - Fg. 41/111 37% 3pt. 27/85 32% Ft. 5/11 45% Ppg. 11.1 K.Lubbers - Fg. 26/69 38% 3pt. 8/33 24% Ft. 5/10 50% Ppg. 6.6 Iles - Fg. 21/50 42% 3pt. 4/20 0% Ft. 2/9 22% Ppg. 4.9 Keene - Fg. 11/23 48% 3pt. 0/0 0% Ft. 7/14 50% Ppg. 4.1 Brinkman - Fg. 0/2 0% 3pt. 0/2 0% Ft. 0/0 0% Ppg. 0.0 Boyer - Fg. 0/7 0% 3pt. 0/4 0% Ft. 0/0 0% Ppg. 0.0 Totals - Fg. 235/557 3pt.114/324 Ft.37/67 Ppg. 61.8 42% 35% 55% That will be all for this edition, markingthe beginning of year two (2), of your occaisonal reading. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, dont hesitate to email us at occasionalorbiter@hotmail.com Also feel free to check us out on the web at http://www.geocities.com/spaceranch2001 and leave us a little messgae in the guestbook, "The Coral". Editor-in-Chief Nick "Stud" Lubbers wee eee weee aww